Motion-picture machine



June 16, 1925; 1,542,408

w. c. READEKER MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Qriginal Filec} Sept. 10, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l "Illllllllllll ,rl:

' i I i June 16, 1925.

W. C; READEKER MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Original Filed pt. 10. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. READEKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIREGT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 CLAREMON'I. LABORATORIES, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTION-PICTURE MACHINE.

Application filed September 10, 1921 Serial Ne. 499,857. Renewed May 15,1924.

tion picture machines in which an endless web of picture film is used and in which the main portion of the film is in the form of a roll with a loop portion extending to and through the picture exhibiting mechanism of the machine. And the present improve- ,ments have for their various obj.ects:

To provide a simple and effective structural formation and combination of parts whereby the endless picture film is wound upon the periphery of a roll thereof, and simultaneously unwound from the interior of said roll and fed to the picture exhibiting mechanisms in a positive, accurate and continuous manner during the operation of the machine.

To provide a simple and efiicient supporting means for a roll of endless film, capable of insertion into place and removal therefrom in a ready and convenient manner.

To provide means for retaining the roll of endless film upon its supporting means, and which is adapted for ready adjustment to permit a removal of the roll of film from said supporting means when it is required to replace a used or damaged film by a fresh one, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a portable motion picture machine embodying the present improvements, the near wall of the machine housing being removed to disclose the mechanisms.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal section on line 2-2 t5 Fig. 1 of the rear portion of the machine.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary elevation from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, of the film roll support, and showing its removable arrangement in the housing of the machine.

Fi 4, is an enlarged detail section on line 4 4 ig. 3.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail transverse section of a supporting roller for the film roll, and an associated roll confining fin er.

Fig. 6, is a detail section on line 6--G Big. 2, of the main film supply sprocket drum of the machine.

Llke reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the enclosing housing of a portable motion picture machine, usually of an oblong rectangular form, and enclosing and supportmg .near its forward end the film confining and guide gate 2 and lamp house 3. The associated intermittent film feeding mechanism, shutter and projecting objective are not shown, their arrangement is however described and shown in detail in my companion applications for Letters Patent Serial Nos. 499,658 and 499,659.

4 designates the film roll supporting plate or standard of the present construction arran ed longitudinally in the rear portion of the ousing 1 in the removable manner hereinafter described.

5 designates a circular cluster of supporting rollers extending transversely from one side of the plate 4: and journalled on bearing spindles attached to said plates. The rollers 5 are arranged in concentric relation to a circular opening 6 in the plate 4 and preferably adjacent to the margin of said opening as shown. As usual in the present type of endless film winding and unwinding mechanisms, and in which the main portion of the film strip is in the form of a roll 7 from which extends a loop 8 of the film for passage through the exhibitin mechanisms of the machine, said roll 7 of film is supported on the exterior of the cluster of rollers 5 and the film is laid or wound continuously upon the perimeter ofsaid film roll 7 and is taken or unwound from the interior of the roll of film. In such unwinding operation the film strip passes between a pair of the rollers 5 as shown in Fig. 1 to the hereinafter described film supply sprocket mechanism by which a continuous supply of film is fed the exhibiting loop aforesaid.

9 designates a plurality of radially extending prongs attached to the supporting plate 1 in an adjustable or removable manner, and in confining relation to the exposed side of'the film roll 7 In one position said prongs are adapted to hold thefilm roll'7 upon the rollers and in another position permit the ready removal of said film roll from said rollers. In the preferredconstruction shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the prongs 9 are attached to the outer ends of the carrying spindles of some of the rollers 5 with said spindles removably or revolubly attached to the plate 4 as shown.

10 designates longitudinal grooved Ways secured to the to and bottom walls of the housing 1 and a apted-to receive and hold the supporting frame or standard 4 by its' way 10 aforesaid, and which may be the upper or lower of said ways, preferably the upper way as shown.

11 designates aplurality of notches formed in an edge of the plate or standard 4, adapted in one position to register with the lugs 10' and permit the entry of the edge of said plate 4 into the groove of a way 10, after which said plate is'moved longitudinally to take said notches and lugs out of registry and so that the plate or standard 4 will be maintained securely in place, as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3.

12 designates a standard or support ar-.

ranged longitudinally, to one side and partly forward of the plate or standard 4 and the roll of film 7 thereon.

13 and 14 designate the respective supply and take up sprocket drums by which the picture fihn is fed to one end of the film loop 8 and taken up at the other end of the same.

15 designates a transversely arranged shaft journalled at one end in the forward end of the standard or support 12 and carrying in transverse spaced relation the sprocket drums 13 and 14 aforesaid, with the film supply sprocket drums 13 to one side of the film roll 7, and with the film take-up sprocket drum 14 forward of said film roll 7 and in line therewith as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. In such arrangment the film will pass over one sprocket drum and under the other sprocket drum to impart the required travel to the picture film in reverse directions, as said film is supplied to and taken from the film loop 8 in the operation of the machine. I

16 designates a secondary transversely arranged shaft journalled at one end in the rear end of the standard or support 12 and operatively connected to the shaft 15 aforesaid by spocket and endless chain connection 17, or other like intermediate operative connection.

18 designates an auxiliary supply sprocket drum carried on the free end of the shaft 16 and located adjacent to the carrying rollers 5 of the film roll 7 near the forward art of the same and in line. therewith. baid auxiliary sprocket drum is adapted to draw the picture film from the interior of the film roll 7 and between a pair of the rollers 5, as before set forth, and in conjunction with the main supply sprocket drum 13 maintain in a positive manner a supplementary and obliquely; extending film loop 8' between the drums 13 and 18 in the operation of the machine, with said loop 8 passing obliquely through theopening 6 of the plate or standard 4 aforesaid.

19 designates the rear portion of a countershaft associated and receiving motion from the vertically adjustable carrying shaft of a motion-picture machine such as forms the subject matter of my companion application Serial No. 499,658 aforesaid.

20 designates longitudinally arranged shaft journalled in the support or standard '12 aforesaid, and operatively connected to the carrying shaft 15 of the sprocket drums 13 and 14 aforesaid, by a pair of bevel gear wheels 21,- or the like.

22 designates a universal coupling of any usual and suitable type arranged between the aforesaid shafts 19 and 20 for imparting motion to the shaft 20 from the shaft 19 regardless of the vertical position of the last mentioned shaft.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a portable motion picture machine,

an enclosing housing a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to said opening of the standard, a film supply sprocket drum and a film takeup sprocket drum having a single transverse carrying shaft journalled in the enclosing housing and carrying the film take-up drum in line with said supporting rollers with the film supply drum in spaced lateral relation to said take-up drum, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum arranged in the interior of the aforesaid cluster of supporting rollers and adapted to unwind the picture film through a space between adjacent rollers and feed said film in the form of a supplementary oblique loop to the film supply drum aforesaid, means for supporting said auxiliary drum, and operative connections between said auxiliary drum and the supply and take-up drums aforesaid,

2. In a portable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster'of supporting rollers 'ournalled on one side of said standard an adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film 1n encircling relation to the o ning of said standard, a support arrange at one side of said standard and rollers and extending forward of said rollers, a transverse shaft journalled in said support and arranged forward of said cluster of rollers, film supply and film take-up drums mounted on said shaft in spaced relation with the film takeup drum in line with said rollers and with the film supply drum in lateral relation thereto, a secondary transverse shaft journalled in the aforesaid support and arranged rearward of the forward portion of the eluster of rollers, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum mounted on said shaft, in line with said rollers and ada ted to draw a supply of film between ad acent rollers from the interior of the roll of film and supply the same to the aforesaid laterally arranged film supply drum in the form of a supplementary oblique loop, and means for imparting simultaneous rotation to said shafts.

3. In a portable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to said opening of the standard, a

film supply sprocket drum and a film takeup sprocket drum having a single transverse carrying shaft journalled in the enclosing housing and carrying the film takeup drum in line with said supporting rollers with the film supply drum in spaced lateral relation to said take-up drum, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum arranged in the interior of the aforesaid cluster of supporting rollers and adapted to unwind the picture film through a space between adjacent rollers and feed said film in the form of a supplementary oblique loop to the film supply drum aforesaid, means for supporting said auxiliary drum, and operative connections between said auxiliary drum and the supply and take-up drums aforesaid.

4. In a portable motion picture machlne, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to the opening of said standard, a support arranged at one side of said standard and rollers and extending forward of said rollers, a transverse shaft journalled in said support and arranged forward of said cluster of rollers, film supply and film take up drums mounted on said shaft in spaced relat1on with the film take-up drum in line with said rollers and with the film supply drum in lateral relation thereto, a secondary transverse shaft journalled in the aforesaid support and arranged rearward of the forward portion of the cluster of rollers, an aux liary film supply sprocket drum mounted on said shaft in line with said rollers and adapted to draw a supply of film between adjacent rollers from the interior of the roll of film and supply the same to the aforesaid laterally arranged film supply drum in the form of asupplementary oblique loop, and means for imparting simultaneous rotation to said shafts, the same comprising sprocket wheels on the respective shafts and an endless chain connection between said sprocket wheels.

ii). In a portable motion picture Inachme, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film 1n encircling relation to the opening of said standard, a support arranged at one side of said standard and rollers and extending forward of said rollers, a transverse carrv ing shaft journalled in said support and arranged forward of said cluster of rollers, film supply and film take-up drums mounted on said shaft in spaced relation with the film' take-up drums in line with said rollers and with the film supply drum in lateral relation thereto a secondary transverse shaft journalled in the aforesaid support and arranged rearward of the forward portion of the cluster of rollers, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum mounted on said shaft in line with said rollers and adapted to draw a supply of film and supply the same to the lufi aforesaid laterally arranged film supply,

drum in the form of a supplementary oblique loop, and means for imparting motion to the carrying shaft of the film supply and film take-up drums, the same comprising a longitudinal shaft and bevel gear wheels connecting said longitudinal shaft and the transverse carrying shaft aforesaid, and means for imparting simultaneous rotation to the transverse shafts aforesaid.

6. In a portable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to the opening of said standard, a support arranged at one side of said standard and rollers and extending forward of said rollers, a transverse carrying shaft j ournalled in said support and arranged forliU ward of said cluster of rollers, film supply and film take-up drums mounted on said shaft in spaced relation with the film takeu drum in line with'said rollers and w th the film supply drum in lateral relation thereto, a secondary transverse shaft journalled in the aforesaid support and arranged rearward of the forward portion of the cluster of rollers, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum mounted on said shaft in line with said rollers and adapted to draw a supply of film between adjacent rollers from the interior of the roll of film and supply the same to the aforesaid laterally arranged film supply drum in the form of a supplementary oblique loop, and means for imparting motion to the carrying shaft of the film supply and film take-up drums, the same comprising a longitudinal shaft and bevel gear wheels connecting said long tudinal shaft and the transverse carrying shaft aforesaid, and means for imparting simultaneous rotation to the aforesaid transverse shafts, the same comprising sprocket wheels on the respective shafts, and an endless chain connection between said sprocket wheels.

7. In a portable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adapted to support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to said opening of the standard, a

film supply sprocket drum and a film takeup sprocket drum having a single transverse carrying shaft journa'lled in the enclosing housing and carrying the film take-up drum in line with said supporting rollers with the film supply drum in spaced lateral relation to said take-up drum, and auxiliary film supply sprocket drum arranged in the interior of the aforesaid cluster of supporting rollers and adapted to unwind the picture film through a space between adjacent rollers and feed said film in the form of a supplementary oblique loop to the film supply drum aforesaid, means for supporting said auxiliary drum, a series of radial prongs attached in an adjustable manner to the standard aforesaid and adapted to have retaining engagement with the exposed side of the roll of film on the rollers aforesaid, and operative connections between the aforesaid auxiliary drum and the supply and take-up drums aforesaid.

8. In aportable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a supporting standard arranged longitudinally in the housing and formed with a central opening, a cluster of supporting rollers journalled on one side of said standard and adaptedto support the roll portion of a picture film in encircling relation to said opening of the standard, 8,

supply sprocket drum and a film takeup sprocket drum having a single transverse carrying shaft journalled in the enclosing to said take-up drum, an auxiliary film supply sprocket drum arranged in the interior of the aforesaid cluster of supporting rollers and adapted to unwind the picture film through a space betweeri adjacent rollers and feed said film in the form of a supplementary oblique loop to the film supply drum aforesaid, means for supporting said auxiliary drum, a series of radial prongs carried on the free ends of some of the carrying spindles of the rollers aforesaid and adapted to have retaining engagement with the exposed side of the roll of film on the rollers, and operative connections between the aforesaid auxiliary drum and the supply and take-up drums aforesaid.

9. In a portable motion picture machine, an enclosing housing, a centrally orificed standard arranged longitudinally in said housing and provided with supporting means for a roll of picture film, and upper and lower longitudinally grooved ways in said housing adapted to receive and hold said standard in place, one side of the groove of one of the ways being formed by lugs, the adjacent edge of said standard having notches adapted to register with said lugs and permit an insertion of the edge of said standard into place in the groove of the way with said standard having independent movement in said ways to take its notches out of register with said lugs.

10. In a motion picture machine, means for supporting a film roll for free rotation in a vertical plane, means arranged within the film roll for withdrawing the inner con volution thereof and forming the same into a preliminary supply loop, a film supply sprocket for feeding the film from said loop to the light aperture of the machine arranged exteriorly of said film roll with its axis parallel to the axis of the film roll and in the vertical plane thereof, film takeup means for returning the film to the exterior of the said roll, and means for synchronously actuating said loop forming means and the film supply and take-up sprockets.

11. In a motion picture machine, means for supporting a film roll for free rotation in a vertical plane, a sprocket arranged within said film roll at one side thereof to withdraw the inner convolution of the film from the roll at an angle of approximately 50 and form a preliminary supply loop therein, sprocket members arranged exteriorly of the film roll engaged respectively with relatively opposite sides of spaced portions of the film to respectively feed the film from said loop past the light aperture of the machine and to return the film to the exterior of the film roll, the axes of all of said sprockets being positioned in a common plane intersecting the axes of the film roll, and means for synchronously actuating said sprockets.

12. In a motion picture machine, a st-andteriorly of the film roll upon a common axis positioned in parallelism with the axis of said first named sprocket member and with the axis of the film roll, said latter sprocket members respectively feeding the film from said loop past the light aperture of the ma chine and returning the film to the exterior of the film roll, and means for synchronously actuating said sprocket members.

13. In a motion picture machine, an annular series of spaced members to receive and support a vertically positioned film roll for free rotation, means disposed in the plane of said film roll to Withdraw the inner convolution of the film at an oblique angle between two adjacent supporting members and form a supply loop in the film, and a pair of sprocket members fixed upon a common axis located exteriorly of the film roll and operating synchronously with said loop forming means to progressively feed the film from said loop past the light aperture of the machine and to return the film for re-Winding upon the exterior of the film roll.

14. In a motion picture machine, an annular series of anti-friction members to receive and support a vertically positioned film roll for free rotation, and film unwinding means consisting of a sprocket member mounted interiorly of the film roll and in the vertical plane thereof in eccentric relation to the film roll axis, the inner convolution of the film roll extending inwardly between adjacent anti-friction members and hence over and around said sprocket memher in contact with the latter through approximately 180 of its circumference, all parts of said inwardly extending portion of the film convolution moving in a straight line and wholly in the plane of the film roll.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of September 1921.

WILLIAM G. READEKER. 

